SW Part Number in BOM

[SWISGR8]

I would like the actual "partno" property to be what shows up in the BOM, but the only options it gives for

"Part number displayed when used in a bill of materials:" are:
a)Document Name
b)Configuration Name
c)User-Specified Name.

Based on this choice, it seems to "override" the "partno" property in the case of the BOM using what you select. The only way I found to get by this is to make my own Part # property and use that instead of the SW "partno" property.

The way I did is pretty straight forward, but is there another way to get the original "partno" property to show up without my "alternate route" method?

Thanks for any help.

 

[TateJ]

SolidWorks equates the "Part Number" to filename... if you're talking about the BILL OF MATERIAL OPTIONS in the CONFIGURATION MANAGER. This also is what shows up by default in the bill of materials under the default colum PART NUMBER. So make your part & use the PartNo custom property to set-up your actual part number. Then use that in your bill of materials instead. So don't confuse PART NUMBER & PartNo... PART NUMBER is the filename & PartNo is whatever you want it to be.

How's that...?

Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP01.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp​

 

[SWISGR8]

Thanks for the input TateJ, but when I do it that way, and use the PartNo custom prop, it still uses whatever is defined from the selection in the Configuration Properties. i.e When I create a brand new BOM template in Excel (or use one the SW templates), I use the PartNo property in one of the columns (by defining the Name of the top cell as "PartNo" as it says to do) and it still fills that column in based on a)Doc Name, b) Config Name, or c) User Specified Name from the Configuration Manager and ignores what I put in the PartNo property field.

(just did some more looking ... )

Actually, the more I look in the help, it pretty much says, that in a BOM, it will only assign Doc Name, Config Name, or User Spec'd Name ... I could be wrong and if I am please let me know, but looks like making using a cust prop other than PartNo might be only way.

I'm not trying to be difficult, just saying what I am exeriencing and deducting. Am I doing something wrong? Is there a system/doc option that I need to address?

Thanks

 

[TateJ]

Try deleting that column & creating a new one with the heading & property you want. There are some columns you can't do anything with: ITEM NO & QTY are 2 of them, PART NUMBER might be another. But you can chose to use them or not. So delete that column & create a new one. Then save your BOM template & call it good.

The help menus might be a little vague... I was told this bit of info... so I never had to look it up.

Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP01.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp​

 

[SWISGR8]

I think you are right that it can't be messed with because I actually created a brand new template as a brand new Excel file. And when I use "partno" custom prop, it still ignores my "partno" definition and fills based on the Doc Name, Config Name, or User Spec'd name. It's really kind of odd on SW's part because when I link "PartNo" prop in drawing it uses my definition of "partno" but in BOM it uses the other options.

But no biggie, it isnt a big deal for me to use the Config Name as the BOM part number and define that with the actual p/n.

Thanks for all your time

 

[EniEddie]

Just to confuse the issue even further, you can use the variable name "$PARTNUMBER" in a design table for use in a BOM. Very useful for multi-configuration database.
This is one area where SW and/or your VAR could do a better job. There are other important factors to be known & considered before you can set-up your SolidWorks environment for your company. However, unique part numbers is key for a CAD system to function properly. In our system:
Single Part Database - Filename = Part Number
Muti-Part Database - Configuration Name = Part Number
Muti-Part Database w/various Deformed Conditions -
-- Configuration Name = Assembled Part Number
-- $PARTNUMBR = BOM Entry
Once you have all of this documented & agreed upon, it really is quite simple.
Eddie

 

[SWISGR8]

Thanks EniEddie, good stuff to know. I don't like the apparent "identity crisis" of the variables in this area, but I guess as long as you understand the nature, you can work around it. Thanks for the part number input. Maybe I need some more understanding, but right now I like the idea of having a custom prop that can be used as part number in any case whether single, configured, or other. That way, one variable, no matter what the case, can be used to call on the part number. I don't know, maybe this convention is lacking in some way. Your convention seems solid too.

Thanks again TateJ and EniEddie, I really appreciate the input.

Mike